While not all people who develop panic attacks will develop agoraphobia, many do. This in turn complicates our experience and adds to the stress and anxiety many of us feel. In the past, Agoraphobia was known as the fear of open spaces or the market place. Now, Agoraphobia is recognized as a fear of having a panic attack in which we feel help or escape may be difficult or we will embarrass ourselves in some way. Agoraphobia is not a fear of situations and or places. Agoraphobia is the fear of having a panic attack or panic like symptoms which motivates us to avoid situations and places.

The avoidance behavior is one way we use to avoid further panic/ anxiety attacks. Sometimes it is successful, sometimes it is not. When we use the term 'Agoraphobia' we may think this indicates someone who is 'housebound'. While there are many people who can become this disabled due to their anxiety, the avoidance behavior can present in many different ways and for a number of different reasons.

The avoidance behavior can be categorized in a number of ways:

First, it may represent an overall defense against on-going panic and anxiety. We have 'boundaries' of where we can and cannot go.

Sometimes these boundaries may mean we can't leave the house or perhaps even one room.

We may have had a panic attack or panic like symptoms in a particular situation or place and start to avoid going back into the situation or place just in case we have another one.

Anticipatory anxiety…this means we know we have to go into a certain situation or place but are fearful of having a panic or panic-like symptoms there. The 'What ifs' create a spiral of anxiety and we may then avoid going into the situations and/or place because of the spiral of anxiety.

This reason is quite obvious but not generally acknowledged. With ongoing panic attacks and anxiety we simply do not feel well. Besides the symptoms of anxiety and panic, many of us develop ongoing sinus or ear problems, hypoglycemia, or thyroid problems. We feel unwell, or just not our self and thus we do not want to do what we need to do because of how poorly we feel.

Agoraphobia Treatment

Agoraphobia does not have to be a life sentence. As we learn to manage our panic attacks and anxiety, we can begin to practice revisiting situations and places we have been avoiding by practicing new behavioral skills and altering our sabotaging thoughts.

I have worked successfully with many clients suffering from Agoraphobia. In agoraphobia treatment, we begin with very small steps, of course, as the agoraphobia has often rooted very deeply. Just being able to get the mail can be a huge step for someone who has been disabled by agoraphobia. If I can get the Agoraphobia client to see small steps are do-able and no one is going to push them to take huge bites, the agoraphobia symptoms can be reversed through effective agoraphobia treatment.

Here is an example of agoraphobia treatment: I remember very well the agoraphobia client I worked with over the phone for weeks. Thereafter, I would see her in her home and before long she was able to have someone drive her to the office. Once at the office, I would speak to her in sister's car before she could come into the office.

After fifteen long years of being housebound, she now drives herself to my office. This success story occurred because she took small steps, with guidance, and overcame her agoraphobia. That is effective agoraphobia treatment.

Agoraphobia treatment works when therapy is carried out by a skilled professional and there is an adequate support system. I have found live support groups or our on-line support groups help the agoraphobia client realize they are not alone, but also reinforce their agoraphobia can be conquered as they watch the progress of others.

Agoraphobia treatment requires we always visit the issue of agendas. What I mean is after so long, the agoraphobia client may get so used to this restricted life and give up even trying. This half-life becomes their norm and also a way to avoid situations, conflicts and issues they do not want to face now. These same issues were probably part of the reason why they developed panic attacks, which grew into agoraphobia. Effective agoraphobia treatment must address this issue.

Effective agoraphobia treatment includes understanding, guidance, and support from a professional who is experienced and knows the importance of systematic desensitization, cognitive behavioral therapy, a well structured support system and in some cases medication.

Desensitization is a step by step "facing of your fears," not an overwhelming plunge into deep waters. This is a critical step in effective agoraphobia treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy {CBT} is a process where negative thoughts are realized, challenged and replaced with reality.

Experience has proven successful agoraphobia treatment requires an active support system. A support system may be family and friends, but is often live or on-line support groups that are professionally monitored, as we provide at OneStepataTime.com.

Medications are often necessary, especially in severe cases where research indicates there may be an underproduction of Serotonin in the brain.